Hannibal protocol standardized

Three weeks ago, the IDF said it was going to standardize the Hannibal protocol, a long-standing IDF procedure for preventing soldiers' kidnapping in light of the denouement of the Shalit kidnapping, and in light of the fact that commanders have long given differing interpretations to the protocol. Now, thatstandardization has been completed.

Under the new work being conducted within the IDF, officers are writing clearer guidelines for what soldiers are expected to do in the case of an abducted soldier.

One scenario is if a soldier is grabbed from a tank along the Gaza Strip – similar to the way Schalit was abducted – and is put into a car, once in Gaza. The first stage, one officer explained, would be for a nearby tank to try and target the car’s engine to prevent the terrorists from fleeing with the abducted soldier.

If that does not work, they would have to then consider firing at the center of the car, even at the risk of injuring their comrade.

The IDF is concerned that Hamas and other terrorist organizations like Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah are currently plotting to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

Fearing future abductions of soldiers, the IDF on Sunday held a large-scale exercise in the Jordan Valley to prepare a response for the potential kidnapping of a soldier.

Gantz oversaw the drill, which took place throughout the Jordan Valley with the purpose of reviewing the readiness of Division 162, which is stationed along the border.

The scenario included a soldier being abducted by Palestinian terrorists and moved between a number of vehicles as well as a number of villages in the Jordan Valley area. On the sidelines of the kidnapping, the scenario included a terrorist infiltration into an Israeli settlement in the area.

Here's the problem: No one believes we won't do another Shalit deal (or worse) and as long as the terror organizations believe they have something to gain by kidnapping IDF soldiers, the kidnappings will continue.